Review Writing 101
PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2005 10:00 pm
Since Gypsy did such an awesome job writing the rules for the anime reviews, I merely modified them to suit our purposes. Still, props go where props belong, so thank you for writing such a clear set of guidelines, Gyp.
1. Quality takes time
Don't sweat it if your review has been pending for a while. Sometimes it takes several days to verify a review, make sure all the grammar and punctuation are correct, etc. (see #2) I will PM you regardless of whether or not your review has been submitted to the main review database.
2. Read the disclaimer
Since in the past we have had issues with people not reading the disclaimer for the ARD, I'll repost it here:
Please fill out the form below and press "Submit for Approval." Please remember that all forum rules apply here, and that mods/admins are volunteers. We have lives, and may not get to this immediately. Also note that submitting this form will not automatically update the main reviews database; all submissions are subject to mod approval. Once your submission has been reviewed, you will be PM'd with our decision. Also, do not post any copyrighted materials here. By submitting a review to this system, you are stating that this is your own original work.
3. Spelling and grammar are important
Spell/grammar checking your own review would move this process along 70% faster, I promise you. CAA takes a lot of pride in these reviews, and we want them to be very high quality, and this only works if the reviewers have the same goal. If I open your submitted review and every other word is spelled wrong, I'm apt to just minimize it and go to the next one. That's the honest truth. The only exception to this would be if your native language is not English. If English is not your first language, then don't worry about spelling errors and such. If you submit a duplicate review of one already pending and yours is full of typos, I may simply take the other person's review simply for the sake of time management. You don't have to be perfect, but you can at least leave out the "ur", "r u" "b4", etc.
4. Details, details, details
Please make an effort when writing the review to be as detailed as possible. I will not be accepting reviews that have one sentence in each field. Try to be objective about your reviews.
5. Additional qualifications
Unlicensed series are ok, if you note it as such in your review under "volume" information. Although there are a few exceptions, do not review series that you have not read fully, or write a review simply based on the anime. Unless I give you permission, I will not be accepting reviews based on any manga that is not fully released or that you have not fully read. Also, I will only accept scanlation reviews when the series is unlicensed. When it is licensed, I have to accept reviews based on the official material. The ONLY exception to this is if it has been licensed and no release date has been set (Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne). Please PM me with your questions.
In fact, the two exceptions to the rule would be if the series were a volume or so away from completion, or if it were in high, high demand. The thread in the announcements board has the full details, or you can PM me.
6. Check for doubles!
Please, please, please check to see if there's already an existing review in the database before you write one up and submit it. Writing reviews take a long time, and I would hate for you to lose all your work.
7. PM the right manager
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Also, Gypsy is in charge of the anime reviews, but I am in charge of the manga ones. So please do not PM Gypsy with your questions - she's also very busy, and she's only going to forward them to me anyway, so save her the trouble and send them to me directly, please.
EDIT:
8. Remember the dialup users
I just realized how huge my own Time Stranger Kyoko pic was, so I scaled in back. I would ask that if you include a picture, please try to consider our slower connection users and make it a reasonable size.
1. Quality takes time
Don't sweat it if your review has been pending for a while. Sometimes it takes several days to verify a review, make sure all the grammar and punctuation are correct, etc. (see #2) I will PM you regardless of whether or not your review has been submitted to the main review database.
2. Read the disclaimer
Since in the past we have had issues with people not reading the disclaimer for the ARD, I'll repost it here:
Please fill out the form below and press "Submit for Approval." Please remember that all forum rules apply here, and that mods/admins are volunteers. We have lives, and may not get to this immediately. Also note that submitting this form will not automatically update the main reviews database; all submissions are subject to mod approval. Once your submission has been reviewed, you will be PM'd with our decision. Also, do not post any copyrighted materials here. By submitting a review to this system, you are stating that this is your own original work.
3. Spelling and grammar are important
Spell/grammar checking your own review would move this process along 70% faster, I promise you. CAA takes a lot of pride in these reviews, and we want them to be very high quality, and this only works if the reviewers have the same goal. If I open your submitted review and every other word is spelled wrong, I'm apt to just minimize it and go to the next one. That's the honest truth. The only exception to this would be if your native language is not English. If English is not your first language, then don't worry about spelling errors and such. If you submit a duplicate review of one already pending and yours is full of typos, I may simply take the other person's review simply for the sake of time management. You don't have to be perfect, but you can at least leave out the "ur", "r u" "b4", etc.
4. Details, details, details
Please make an effort when writing the review to be as detailed as possible. I will not be accepting reviews that have one sentence in each field. Try to be objective about your reviews.
5. Additional qualifications
Unlicensed series are ok, if you note it as such in your review under "volume" information. Although there are a few exceptions, do not review series that you have not read fully, or write a review simply based on the anime. Unless I give you permission, I will not be accepting reviews based on any manga that is not fully released or that you have not fully read. Also, I will only accept scanlation reviews when the series is unlicensed. When it is licensed, I have to accept reviews based on the official material. The ONLY exception to this is if it has been licensed and no release date has been set (Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne). Please PM me with your questions.
In fact, the two exceptions to the rule would be if the series were a volume or so away from completion, or if it were in high, high demand. The thread in the announcements board has the full details, or you can PM me.
6. Check for doubles!
Please, please, please check to see if there's already an existing review in the database before you write one up and submit it. Writing reviews take a long time, and I would hate for you to lose all your work.
7. PM the right manager
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Also, Gypsy is in charge of the anime reviews, but I am in charge of the manga ones. So please do not PM Gypsy with your questions - she's also very busy, and she's only going to forward them to me anyway, so save her the trouble and send them to me directly, please.
EDIT:
8. Remember the dialup users
I just realized how huge my own Time Stranger Kyoko pic was, so I scaled in back. I would ask that if you include a picture, please try to consider our slower connection users and make it a reasonable size.
